Thursday, April 17, 2014

The Swan Racing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team released a number of
employees today and may not compete in the circuit’s next race at Richmond
International Raceway On April 26.

The team issued a written statement saying, “Swan Racing is in the process of
reviewing its current situation and the ability to continue to compete in the
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The team has been unable to secure the kind of
sponsorship required to effectively operate the team. As a result, the
team management is exploring every available option. We hope to be in
position to provide a detailed update in the near future.”

The 2014 campaign has been a competitive struggle for Swan, with a best
finish of 18th by driver Cole Whitt at Auto Club Speedway of
Southern California last month. Whitt finished 42nd in last Saturday
night’s Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway (his second consecutive 42nd-place
finish), while teammate Parker Kligerman was 30th. The team has
suffered a total of five DNFs in 16 combined starts this season, with Whitt currently
33rd in Sprint Cup Series championship points and Kligerman 38th.

Team employees were reportedly informed today that the team is suspending
operations, and many of them are already seeking employment with other teams. Swan
Racing minority owner Anthony Marlowe – who also serves as co-founder and
president of TMOne -- commented on the situation today via Twitter, saying, “My mission is to ensure @ColeWhitt races in every #NASCAR
Sprint Cup event this season.” Sources
say there is a possibility that Whitt’s No. 26 Toyota could be absorbed into
the existing BK Racing operation, if Swan Racing is unable to continue.

Majority owner Brandon Davis
purchased the former Inception Motorsports in mid-2012, running most of that
season with driver David Stremme. Stremme parted company with the team
following last year’s fall Atlanta race, with Kligerman, Whitt, Kevin Swindell
and Michael Waltrip all filling the seat of the team’s No. 30 Toyota before
season’s end. Swan expanded to a
two-car operation this year with Kligerman and Whitt, while also adding Marlowe
and former NFL star Bill Romanowski as minority partners.

Sponsorship has come from Davis’ Swan Energy – a Denver-based oil
and gas company -- and Romanowski’s Lean1
Nutrition Shakes, as well as SMS audio, Widow Wax; the MGM Grand Hotel and
Casino and Black Clover. Phone calls to Davis and the
team’s race shop went unanswered today, and messages requesting additional
comment were not immediately returned.